Regarding finish, I appreciate a nice blue job, esp on rifles, as much as the next guy but my experience with parkerizing has been positive. The two handguns in my collection that have had the most use, both are parkerized. Well, the Taurus PT99 looks like parkerizing but may be a proprietary finish. I also don't have a problem with stainless. I know it isn't as hard and should last as long but I wouldn't have a problem replacing the gun after it's worn out after 20 years instead of lasting 100 years. I've long thought if I had a custom gun built, I would try the Boron Carbide finish but they seem to have made it a bit more difficult to work with BodyKote.
I own several 1911s and have owned several more. I don't think this makes my opinion any more well founded than anyone elses but I can honestly say I don't have anything against any of the major manufacturers.
My favorite 1911 is a Springfield Loaded Stainless Target. It is one of the newer made guns with the correctly contoured front strap and ambi safety. Mine is particularly well fitted - not tight like a Baer or Rock River, but better than any other out-of-the-box sub $1,200 1911 I've ever handled. I am told that there is very little actual hand fitting and at the price, I would have to agree but several parts fit perfectly in their place. The trigger has only very little up and down play and even less lateral movement. The grip safety might almost please Dane Burns. The barrel bushing doesn't quite need a wrench but it really takes some effort to initially twist it clockwise. The barrel to slide fit is darn near rock solid and the slide to frame fit is as good as I can imagine without a great deal of handfitting. After replacing the ILS mainspring housing and internals with Wilson parts, the trigger dropped down to about 2.6 lbs but more importantly, my trigger guy doesn't think he could give it a better trigger job though he isn't comfortable knowing someone carries a gun with a 2.5 lb trigger. There is no creep and the overtravel stop was exactly properly adjusted. I don't believe I'm capable of taking full advantage of it's accuracy potential but my accuracy with it is as good as any other 1911 I've ever owned. Reliability has been perfect from the start. I shoot mostly S&B ball ammo which no pistol should have a problem feeding. Every HP ammo I've tried has been 100% including 200 +P Gr Gold Dots, 230 Gr +P Gold Dots, 230 Gr and 230 Gr +P Rangers, 230 Gr and 185 Gr Golden Sabers, and 200 Gr +P Hornady XTPs. I admit that I've never shot the 200 Gr LSWC that many folks like to shoot with.
Not all are that well fit and there's bound to be a hiccup or two breaking the gun in. I used to own a 9mm the serial number of which was only 40 (IIRC) away from this one but not nearly as well fitted. I handled two other PI9132Ls the day I bought this one and this was by far the most impressive. I guess this says that I just lucked into a very choice example but it also shows that if you keep looking, you might run into another such example.
I'm about done with lower priced 1911s unless I come across a good deal at a show, pawn shop or from a friend. My next planned 1911 purchase will be a Springfield Pro and then, I believe I'll be done.
(Never said that before.) But when folks ask what 1911 I would recommend on a budget of $800 or less, I always suggest a Springfield Loaded. Under $500 I suggest a Springfield MilSpec and less than that, a used MilSpec or Colt 1991A1. I've probably had 15 friends buy Loadeds and I don't recall any of them having any complaints.
